We are very grateful to all those readers who took the time to respond to our appeal (see report of 16th January). It was also feared that the application to develop the Eco Park would be approved by SCC officers without the matter again being considered by Planning and Regulatory Committee. We have always maintained that, in view of the material matters which have come to light since the application was referred to the Secretary of State, a further hearing was imperative, if only in the interests of democratic fair play.

The following paragraphs are an extract from an email received from County Cllr Marisa Heath, Chairman of the Planning and Regulatory Committee:

"As it has now been confirmed that the application is to come back to the Planning and Regulatory Committee, I am not going to comment on the specific points you raise as that will jeopardise my position. However, they have been read and noted.

"Just to alleviate any concerns you may have over a lack of information on the process, it may interest you to know that a total of 1908 notification letters covering those who have previously expressed an interest in the application and to properties adjoining and in the locality of the site will be sent out in the next couple of days. A public notice will appear in the Surrey Herald on Thursday 2 February and notices will be placed on site. Our website http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/ will be updated ready for publication on Wednesday and will have the documents referred to in the notification letter available for downloading. Please be assured that members of the public and interested parties will have access to all the information and will have the opportunity to put forward views to be considered by members of the Committee, some of which represent and live in the Spelthorne area."

It should be noted that you are being asked to submit (or re-submit) your representations. For the purposes of the P&R Committee the project is being treated as a fresh application, the last one having been heard before the Advertising Standards Authority published their damning final adjudication on the public consultation. (See also articles of 26th October, 7th & 22nd December). In making further representations you may wish to consider the following points which were reflected in the ASA judgement: 

The technology is not proven, as claimed by SITA. Shepperton would receive an untried, untested prototype gasification unit.

The reference sites that SITA claim are "operating successfully with emissions falling within predicted levels" has been ruled as misleading, unsubstantiated and also fail on environmental claims, as the quoted Dumfries site has suffered operational issues since inception and experiences emission breaches on an alarmingly regular basis.

LOSRA has just been notified that the Planning & Regulatory Committee will be re-hearing the application on 9th March at County Hall, Kingston at 10am.

Further to the article posted on 18th January, the public consultation exhibition at the Holiday Inn was attended by LOSRA at exactly the same time as the details of the plan were being uploaded to the CEMEX Website. It is emphasised that no planning application has yet been lodged with Surrey County Council who will ultimately decide whether to approve or refuse it.

If you were unable to visit the exhibition you may view CEMEX intentions and associated documents by visiting their website: http://www.cemexcommunities.co.uk/

For further information contact: Mark Kelly, Project Planner CEMEX UK - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You may also wish to visit Sunbury and Shepperton Against Gravel Extraction at: http://www.ssage.org.uk/

Further to articles published on this Site on 20th October and 3rd November, Linden Homes has now formally applied for full planning permission for the Police College Site in Green Street.

The application follows a period of public consultation and one-to-one representations from neighbouring residents.

The site is a "brownfield" (ie previously developed land) and the number of homes falls within the density limits.

The planning application and associated documents may be viewed by clicking here

The following announcement comes from the Chairman of the Sunbury Sports Association:

"A belated Happy New Year to you all, and here’s hoping, among other things, for some great evenings of music at Sunbury Cricket Club during 2012. This is by way of an introduction to the events already in the diary for the first few months of the year, which will be added to and updated as we go along. However, as you will see, we already have some exciting things in the book. We have built on the experience of our first year or so, and have tried to bring you names with a real background and heritage in the business, and also one or two important contemporary stars, including touring American artists. We are also aiming to increase the frequency of the music nights, so that they are occasionally at fortnightly intervals rather than monthly, as we have quite a pool of new bands to bring into the calendar, quite apart from those who have appeared before who we would like to get back."

To see the calendar of events and artists click here.

LOSRA has just been advised that the gravel mining firm, CEMEX Ltd will be holding a public consultation event at the Holiday Inn, Ferry Lane, Shepperton.

So far as we understand it, the event will take place during the afternoon and evening of 23rd January. At the time of writing we have had no formal communication from the Company and this Site will be updated just as soon as more detail becomes known.

Update as at 19th January; the following email has been received from the applicants Cemex Ltd:

"As part of the Mineral Plan, adopted by Surrey County Council, we propose to extract sand and gravel over 4 – 5 years from Watersplash Farm site, off Fordbridge Road, Shepperton.

We plan to extract the material in phases and progressively restore the land back to agriculture and nature conservation, while minimising the environmental impact.

Please do come and join us at an informal public consultation on Monday 23rd January 2012, from 1 – 8pm in the Hampton Suite, Holiday Inn Hotel, Shepperton TW17 8NP. Our plans will be displayed and you will be able to discuss them with colleagues."

For further information contact: Mark Kelly, Project Planner CEMEX UK - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are very disappointed at the very short notice given for this consultation and appropriate representations have been made to Cemex.

Despite the numerous articles published on this Site, Spelthorne Council has received a mere 4 letters in opposition to the proposed Eco Park.

The planning application for the Eco Park is back with Surrey County Council for final approval. The Minister for Local Government and Communities has not given it his approval, but handed it back to Surrey to determine.

Despite all the flaws in the application that have been pointed out, Surrey has no alternative plan so it is very likely to be passed.

Spelthorne Borough Council is also aware of the shortcomings of the application and will be opposing it but needs to be able to state that there is strong local opposition. There is a petition going round but individual messages are far more effective. 

If, after reading the following facts, you are as incensed as us that Charlton Village will be used as a receptacle for large amounts of Surrey’s waste then please email the Deputy Leader of the Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and express your opposition to the plan. You can use some, or all, of these points in your message:

• Surrey says that the technology proposed is proven. Not true – the example it uses is still not working after at least 18 months. It is also potentially dangerous as it produces highly explosive gas by heating unsorted black-bag waste. The plant will be sited only 400 metres from Charlton Village and incorporates a Community Recycling Centre where you drop off your domestic waste. Remember, if it can go wrong it will!
  
  
• Surrey says that the Eco Park will not affect air quality. Not true – Spelthorne is already an Air Quality Management Area as it often exceeds the EU guidelines on nitrous oxide emissions. Any further emissions must be detrimental, and the plan doesn’t cover particulates that are especially harmful to health.
  
  
• The ‘artists impression’ on the newsletters doesn’t an accurate illustration of scale. The chimney/stack will be at least 165ft high (think Nelson’s Column) and the buildings will cover the equivalent of two football pitches. It will be ¾ the size of Grundon’s at Colnbrook.
  
  
• Local estate agents have confirmed that the planned Eco Park is already concerning people looking to buy property locally and potentially affecting prices.
  
  

Please act as soon as possible.

The Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Association is delighted to announce their forthcoming Series of Coffee Concerts at the Riverside Arts Centre. Three concerts are to be held Saturday 28th January, Saturday 25th February and Saturday 28th April; and will feature works by Mozart, Brahms, Locatelli and Beethoven. Please see attached leaflet for details.

Residents may have experienced long delays in their journeys along Fordbridge Road and the A244. The full programme of works which is detailed below will entail occasional night and weekend closures of Walton Bridge during its construction which started this month.

January 2011 - Advance construction works start.

May to September 2011 - Archaeological investigation.

September to October 2011 - Earthworks in new open space. 

September 2011 - Diversion of pipes and cables commence.

January 2012 - Main construction works start. 

June 2013 - New bridge completed and brought into use.

July 2013 - Demolition of existing bridges commences, followed by final landscaping works.

March 2014 - Works completed.

PC Caroline Barnes has forwarded her police report for the month of December. Click here to view.

The following appeal has been forwarded to LOSRA and we are very happy to help the owner trace the missing family pet. If you spot Dexter or know of his whereabouts please contact LOSRA.

"Have you seen our missing ginger cat, Dexter? He is very friendly and social but can be quite nervous too. He disappeared from Woodberry Close, Sunbury on the morning of December 8th 2011.

He is only 10 months old but looks quite large as he has long hair. He was wearing a black collar with a blue paw shaped ID tag and a reflective yellow flea collar. He has not been neutered and has been microchipped so will be easily identifiable.

Please check your sheds or garages and please keep an eye out for him. We are extremely worried about him. If you have seen him or know anything that might help us locate him, please get in touch."